Comey reveals what Trump whispered in his ear during their now-infamous White House handshake

U.S.
President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with James Comey,
director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), during an
Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception
in the Blue Room of the White House on January 22, 2017 in
Washington, DC.Pool/Andrew Harrer via
Getty Images

Former FBI Director James Comey revealed in his
testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on
Thursday what President Donald Trump had whispered as they
shook hands the day after Trump's inauguration.

"What the President whispered in my ear was, 'I really look
forward to working with you,'" Comey testified.

That interaction became infamous in recent weeks following
reports that Comey had been uncomfortable about attending the
ceremony held in the White House's Blue Room that day, as he had
not wanted to appear to have too friendly a relationship with
Trump, Comey's friend Benjamin Wittes told
The New York Times.

Comey ultimately attended because he felt obligated to represent
the FBI at the ceremony, which was meant to honor law enforcement
officials, but had tried to blend into the curtains in the room
in an effort to escape Trump's notice.

"He thought he had gotten through and not been noticed or singled
out and that he was going to get away without an individual
interaction," Wittes told the Times.

Yet Comey, who is 6 feet 8 inches tall, was eventually spotted by
Trump. What followed, according to Wittes, was an awkward
interaction in which Trump apparently tried to embrace Comey:

"Comey said that as he was walking across the room he was
determined that there wasn't going to be a hug … It was bad
enough there was going to be a handshake," Wittes said. "And
Comey has long arms so Comey said he preemptively reached out for
a handshake and grabbed the president's hand. But Trump pulled
him into an embrace and Comey didn't reciprocate. If you look at
the video it's one person shaking hands and another hugging."